I receive many messages from readers who have just obtained their Paraguayan residence and ask: now what, where do I start? The truth is that the immigration sesame is just the beginning. Once the residence card is in hand, you must activate your legal existence in the gears of the Paraguayan administration. Identity card to become a real resident, tax RUC with the SET if you work, local bank account to manage your money, driver's license, degree recognition: each procedure has its agency, its documents, and its timeline. I detail them here in the logical order in which they arise, with the pitfalls I have identified while helping other expatriates.
In summary: the order of procedures
The order to follow
- •1. Get your identity card (Departamento de Identificaciones): your local passport
- •2. Apply for the RUC with SET if you carry out a paid activity
- •3. Open a bank account once you have your identity card in hand
- •4. Convert your driver's license or use an international permit
- •5. Start degree recognition as early as possible, the process takes several months
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The identity card, the first procedure
Once temporary or permanent residence is granted, the identity card is applied for at the Departamento de Identificaciones of the National Police. It is the document that replaces your passport for almost all local procedures: account opening, lease signing, school enrollment, employment contract, obtaining the RUC. Without an identity card, you are a foreigner with a residence permit. With an identity card, you become a resident capable of functioning within the Paraguayan system.
- 1Appointment at the Departamento de Identificaciones with your original residence card
- 2Bring ID photos according to Paraguayan standards and pay the tax stamps
- 3Processing time varies from a few days to several weeks depending on demand
- 4The identity card is valid for 10 years for permanent residents, less for temporary ones
A trick I learned: some Departamento de Identificaciones offices close early and only accept a limited number of applications per day. Arrive at opening time, ideally on a Tuesday or Wednesday : Mondays are usually saturated.
The Departamento de Identificaciones has regional offices. Processing times there are sometimes shorter than in Asunción.
The RUC, your tax identifier with SET
The Registro Único de Contribuyentes (RUC) is issued by the Subsecretaría de Estado de Tributación (SET). It becomes necessary as soon as you carry out a paid activity in Paraguay or generate income from Paraguayan sources. Paraguay applies a principle of territorial taxation: the IRP (Personal Income Tax) only taxes income from Paraguayan sources, at a rate of 8% or 10% depending on the bracket, once an annual threshold is exceeded. Income from foreign sources (French pension, rent in France, international dividends) falls outside the scope of the IRP, which explains the country's appeal for retirees and entrepreneurs.
| Documents required to obtain the RUC | |
|---|---|
| Identity card | Original and copy, mandatory document for any application |
| Proof of address in Paraguay | Electricity or water bill, or lease agreement in your name |
| Residence card | Original, to prove your legal status |
| SET form | Completed and signed, available online on the SET portal |
| Registration in the taxpayer registry | If creating a business, prior registration before RUC is mandatory |
Opening a local bank account
Opening a Paraguayan bank account has become easier in recent years, but it is still conditional on presenting your identity card. Without it, banks generally refuse to open a resident account. The main banks in the country are Banco Itaú, Banco Continental, Banco Familiar, and Banco Nacional de Fomento.
- 1The identity card is generally required by Paraguayan banks to open a resident account
- 2Proof of local address and proof of income are usually requested
- 3Some banks offer USD accounts as a complement to the guaraní account
- 4Account maintenance fees are generally low, around 30,000 to 50,000 Gs monthly (4 to 6 EUR)
If you plan to receive international transfers, check the cost of foreign currency transactions. Some banks charge high fees on incoming dollars or euros.
Driver's license: conversion or international permit
An international driver's permit, obtained before departure, makes driving easier during the temporary residence period. Once permanent residence and the identity card are obtained, conversion to a local Paraguayan license becomes possible through the competent traffic authorities (Departamento de Tránsito). The exact conditions (theory exam, direct equivalency depending on country of origin) vary and should be verified locally.
- 1The international permit is valid for 1 year, enough time to organize the conversion
- 2Conversion requires the identity card, the original permit, and a sworn translation if the permit is not in Spanish
- 3A medical exam (vision, reflexes) is required to obtain the Paraguayan license
- 4The Paraguayan license is valid for 5 to 10 years depending on the category
Recognizing a foreign degree
To practice a regulated profession in Paraguay (medicine, law, engineering) or have a degree recognized in the local university system, a recognition procedure (reconocimiento or revalidación) is required before the Ministry of Education and Sciences or the competent university. The application generally includes the apostilled degree, translated and legalized transcripts, and a processing time that can extend several months.
Summary table: documents per procedure
| Documents required for each administrative procedure | |
|---|---|
| Identity card | Original residence card, photos, tax stamps |
| RUC (SET) | Identity card, proof of address, residence card, SET form |
| Bank account | Identity card, proof of address, proof of income |
| Driver's license | Original permit + translation, medical certificate, identity card |
| Degree recognition | Apostilled degree + translation, transcripts, MEC application |
Last updated:
Sources
- Dirección General de Migraciones: Cambio de categoría hacia la residencia permanente (2026)
- SET: Subsecretaría de Estado de Tributación (2025)
- IPS: Instituto de Previsión Social (2025)
- Direction Générale des Finances Publiques: Vivir fuera de Francia (2025)
- France Diplomatie: Consejos a los viajeros Paraguay (2025)
- Service-Public.fr: Preparar su expatriación (2025)
- CLEISS: Acuerdos internacionales de seguridad social firmados por Francia (2024)
My method
This page is written from France, sourced as carefully as possible, but I can be wrong or miss on-the-ground detail. A price that changed, outdated info, a photo to share? Every correction is credited if you want.
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